We compare the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress and the Silentnight Ortho Dream Star Miracoil Mattress to help you decide which suits your sleep.
These two mattresses take very different routes to a good night's sleep. The Nectar is an all-foam design, 25cm deep with five layers, built around contouring memory foam and a 7-zone support base. The Silentnight Ortho Dream Star is a 22cm open coil mattress with an extra firm feel, using Miracoil springs with separate support zones and a layer of Eco Comfort Fibre made from recycled materials.
Our verdict is that the Nectar is the better buy for most people. It wins on construction, layers, buying terms and value, with a 365-night trial and a 10 year guarantee against the Silentnight's 5 years and a trial that varies by retailer. It also sits well below the typical price for a memory foam mattress, where the Silentnight is priced above the norm for an open coil design.
That said, the Silentnight serves a genuine niche. If you specifically want a rigid, extra firm surface, particularly for back issues, it does that job well, and across owner reviews people with aches and pains rate it highly.
Our verdict at a glance: which mattress wins?
The Nectar pairs a deeper, more layered construction with a 365-night trial and 10 year guarantee, at a price below the typical cost of a memory foam mattress.
WINNER
A longer trial and guarantee
Nectar gives you a 365-night trial and a 10 year guarantee, which means a full year to change your mind. The Silentnight's trial varies by retailer and its guarantee runs to 5 years.
Better value against its peers
The Nectar sits comfortably below the typical price for a memory foam mattress, while the Silentnight is priced above the norm for an open coil design.
Deeper, more layered construction
At 25cm with five layers, including pressure-relieving memory foam over a 7-zone base, the Nectar offers contouring for side and combination sleepers that the three-layer, 22cm Silentnight cannot match.
RUNNER UP
You want a genuinely extra firm surface
The Miracoil spring system delivers a rigid, zoned feel that suits back sleepers and heavier sleepers who need firm spinal support. The Nectar's medium-firm foam will feel far softer.
You prefer springs to foam
If contouring memory foam feels too enveloping, the pushed-back feel of an open coil system will suit you better.
Sustainability and certifications matter to you
The Silentnight is B-Corp certified, vegan-friendly, hypoallergenic and handcrafted in the UK, with Eco Comfort Fibre made from recycled, sustainable sources.
Nectar
Silentnight Eco Comfort Airmesh 2000
Firmness
Medium Firm
Firm
Layers
5
5
Price Range
£458 to £989
The Nectar takes this dimension. It is 25cm deep with five layers, combining pressure-relieving memory foam with a castellated 7-zone base for targeted support. The Silentnight's three-layer, 22cm build around Miracoil springs is simpler and shallower, which means less cushioning between you and the springs. It holds its own for pure rigidity, but as an overall construction the Nectar offers more.
Construction verdict: which wins on build?
The Nectar takes this dimension. It is 25cm deep with five layers, combining pressure-relieving memory foam with a castellated 7-zone base for targeted support. The Silentnight's three-layer, 22cm build around Miracoil springs is simpler and shallower, which means less cushioning between you and the springs. It holds its own for pure rigidity, but as an overall construction the Nectar offers more.
How firm are both mattresses?
Which mattress feels better?
The Nectar has a medium-firm feel, rated 6.5 out of 10 by the brand, which puts it in the range that suits most back and combination sleepers. Side sleepers benefit too, as the memory foam layer eases pressure on hips and shoulders while the 7-zone base keeps your spine aligned. The Silentnight is extra firm, and unapologetically so. That suits back sleepers and those with back issues who want a rigid surface, and heavier sleepers who need firmer resistance. Side sleepers, especially lighter ones, will likely find it too hard on shoulders and hips. If you're unsure how firm you like a mattress, the Nectar is the safer middle ground.
Other important factors to consider before buying.
Beyond feel, the buying terms differ sharply here. Nectar offers a 365-night manufacturer trial and a 10 year guarantee, while the Silentnight carries a 5 year guarantee and its trial depends on which retailer you buy from. The table below sets it out.
Nectar
Silentnight Eco Comfort Airmesh 2000
Trial (nights)
365
100
Guarantee (years)
10
5
Environmental impact and sustainability
Nectar
Silentnight Eco Comfort Airmesh 2000
Sustainability
Undefined
Undefined
Certifications
CertiPUR
BS 7177
Prices and sizes for both mattresses
Both mattresses come in five sizes, and live prices for each are shown below. The Nectar sits below the typical price for its construction type, while the Silentnight sits above the norm for an open coil mattress.
Silentnight Eco Comfort Airmesh 2000 Pillowtop Mattress
The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress is the winner here, and it took four of the five dimensions that resolved: construction, layers, terms and value. Its 25cm, five-layer build gives you contouring memory foam over a 7-zone support base, a more sophisticated design than the Silentnight's three-layer open coil construction. The buying terms seal it: a 365-night trial and 10 year guarantee against 5 years and a trial that varies by retailer. On value, the Nectar sits below the typical price for a memory foam mattress, while the Silentnight is priced above the norm for its type. The Silentnight still deserves a look if you specifically want an extra firm, sprung surface for back support, but for most sleepers the Nectar is the more comfortable and better-protected purchase.
Decision helper
Consider your primary need: contouring pressure relief with a long trial, or a rigid, extra firm sprung surface for back support.
WINNER
A longer trial and guarantee
Nectar gives you a 365-night trial and a 10 year guarantee, which means a full year to change your mind. The Silentnight's trial varies by retailer and its guarantee runs to 5 years.
Better value against its peers
The Nectar sits comfortably below the typical price for a memory foam mattress, while the Silentnight is priced above the norm for an open coil design.
Deeper, more layered construction
At 25cm with five layers, including pressure-relieving memory foam over a 7-zone base, the Nectar offers contouring for side and combination sleepers that the three-layer, 22cm Silentnight cannot match.
RUNNER UP
You want a genuinely extra firm surface
The Miracoil spring system delivers a rigid, zoned feel that suits back sleepers and heavier sleepers who need firm spinal support. The Nectar's medium-firm foam will feel far softer.
You prefer springs to foam
If contouring memory foam feels too enveloping, the pushed-back feel of an open coil system will suit you better.
Sustainability and certifications matter to you
The Silentnight is B-Corp certified, vegan-friendly, hypoallergenic and handcrafted in the UK, with Eco Comfort Fibre made from recycled, sustainable sources.
Is the Nectar or the Silentnight Ortho Dream Star better for side sleepers?
The Nectar is the better choice for side sleepers. Its pressure-relieving memory foam eases weight off hips and shoulders, while the Silentnight's extra firm Miracoil surface will likely feel too hard in that position, especially for lighter sleepers.
Which is firmer, the Nectar or the Silentnight Ortho Dream Star?
The Silentnight is firmer. It is rated extra firm, built around a rigid open coil spring system, while the Nectar has a medium-firm feel rated 6.5 out of 10 by the brand. If you want the hardest surface possible, choose the Silentnight; for a middle-ground feel, choose the Nectar.
Does the Silentnight Ortho Dream Star come with a sleep trial?
There is no manufacturer trial on the Silentnight; any trial period varies by retailer, so check before you buy. The Nectar, by contrast, comes with a 365-night manufacturer trial, which gives you a full year to decide.
Which mattress is better for back pain, Nectar or Silentnight?
It depends on the firmness you need. Across owner reviews, the Silentnight is recommended for back issues thanks to its extra firm zoned springs. The Nectar's 7-zone base also supports spinal alignment, but with a softer medium-firm feel. If a rigid surface has helped you before, pick the Silentnight.
Is the Nectar mattress hot to sleep on compared with the Silentnight?
Both mattresses include cooling features, and this dimension was too close to call between them. The Nectar uses open-cell foam and a heat-wicking cover with MTick certification for menopause-friendly cooling, while the Silentnight's damask cover doesn't retain heat and its fibre layer is breathable.
Editor
Jo Plumridge
Consumer journalist, 20 years. Writes on sleep and home for The Telegraph, TechRadar and Expert Reviews.